Strawberry Limeade Smoothie

Here is another delicious smoothie creation. While on a family vacation, I was bored with their standard smoothie options, so I started requesting that the waiter bring experimental fruit combinations. One of my requests was for a strawberry limeade smoothie, and I loved it. The rest of the family members there ordered the same combination and continued to reorder it for the duration of our trip. Instant success!

Although I love my vanilla lemonade smoothie, I often want other smoothies as well. So, together with Pineapple's discerning tongue, I created the following strawberry limeade smoothie.

Ingredients

• Lime juice from 1 to 2 limes, depending on desired tartness level
• 15 average-sized strawberries
• 1/2 fully ripe avocado
• Approximately 3 to 8 heaping tablespoons cane sugar, depending on desired sweetness level
• Ice
• Water
• Desired amount of unflavored protein/collagen powder (optional)

Directions

1. Add the cane sugar to the blender. I typically pour until the pile of sugar covers the top of the central post that holds the blade in the Blendtec. You can adjust this to your own preferred sweetness level.
2. Add the avocado, lime juice, and strawberries.
3. Add/Prepare the protein/collagen powder
1. If using a brand of protein/collagen powder that doesn't clump in cold water, add the protein/collagen powder to the mixture in the blender. (I use 2 scoops from this brand.)
2. If using a brand of protein/collagen powder that does clump in water, mix the protein/collagen powder with about 16 oz. of (preferably cool or cold) water following the directions on the container and set the mixture aside. (I use 2 scoops from this powder.)
4. Add about a 750 milliliters of ice. (I add until the fluid level reaches the top of the Blendtec logo.)
5. Add water (or the mixture from step 3.2) until the fluid level is about an inch above the 1-liter mark.
6. Set aside an additional glass/cup with cold water.
7. Blend until smooth. (The Blendtec has a "smoothie" button for this.)
1. Warning: If the blender starts to struggle or spin freely--meaning the blender is running but the smoothie mixture is not moving or is sluggish--immediately start adding water from step 6 until the smoothie mixture starts to flow again.
8. Pour, serve, and enjoy!

Additional Notes

Blender

I use a Blendtec blender, but a similar professional blender like a Vitamix will work. 

Lime Juice

When preparing the lime juice, I try to use the lime pulp as well. I slice the limes off-center 3 times so that I get 4 chunks of limes that I squeeze by hand directly into the blender.

Washing Hands

Before I work with food I wash my hands with soap and dry them using a paper towel. Any time I do something which might contaminate my hands--such as interacting with non-food-related items--I rewash my hands. I use paper towels because they are inexpensive and more sanitary than hand towels.

Ice and Water

The ideal ice-to-water ratio will result in a smoothie which has the consistency of yogurt or soft-serve ice cream. If you find the smoothie is too watery then either add more ice next time or cut back on the water added. When there is not enough water then the blender will start to spin freely as mentioned in step 7.1.

Avocado

The ripeness of the avocado matters. If the avocado is not ripe, then the smoothie will be clumpy, will start to separate, and the flavor will be unsatisfying. If the avocado is ripe, then the smoothie will be satisfyingly creamy and will stay uniform for a long time--at least a half-hour.

I've attempted to use avocado oil in place of the avocado, but that particular smoothie doesn't have the right texture and starts to separate immediately. I've also tried to substitute coconut oil, but that also separates immediately and tends to be clumpy.